Council approves trash rate increase

By Lisa Jager Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer

Posted:
02/25/2014 08:08:07 AM MST

Updated:
02/25/2014 08:09:04 AM MST

The Brush City Council approved a trash rate increase at its Monday February 24. The increase will result in an approximately $2.50 increase per month for a typical household and $2 increase for commercial locations.The increases were approved in a motion to approve Resolution No. 2014-3 –Modifying rules and regulations for the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste by the City of Brush and establishing charges therefore.Dale Colerick, Brush City Director of Utilities & Public Works, told the council the reason for the increase is that revenues have not kept pace with expenses. The resolution also includes the city changing its policy of requiring businesses to purchase their own dumpsters and instead implement a $5 per month lease charge with the option to purchase. They also want to give businesses the option of using a commercial hauler who does not require the purchase of a dumpster once the dumpster is no longer useable. Colerick said that recent moisture and cold weather has damaged some parts of Brush city roads resulting in pot holes. He said city road crews have been trying to get around to fix them and urged residents to contact the city if they are aware of potholes that need to be fixed. The council approved a grant that will allow the city to finish work on the downtown street improvement project. The grant for $792,500 is from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs for phase four of the downtown project – the two blocks off of Clayton street on Edmunds and for the stormwater pond east of town.

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City Administrator Monty Torres said it’s too soon to have a timeline for completing the project, and said once the agreement is signed by the state the city can begin the engineering work and put out bids on the project.“This is going to be a pretty good project for the city of Brush – we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Torres said.Council approved a resolution that will allow the City of Brush to slurry seal the Brush airport runway. The resolution supports a grant the city received from the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Aeronautical Board, Division of Aeronautics. The grant is for $90,000 with the City of Brush kicking in $10,000 of its own, a requirement for the grant. The council approved two additional resolutions: 1) Agreement to Amend/Extend English Feedlot Contract purchase agreement.According to minutes from a special meeting about the purchase “the property has approximately 140 acres and various water shares. The Water Fund and Wastewater Funds would be paying for this purchase and they are financially sound. The primary use for the property would be bio-solid land application and water. There are also many potential secondary uses.” 2) Proclamation No. 2014-1 Affirming Common Values for A Diverse Community that was originally drafted by One Morgan County.At the last city council meeting on February 10, the city heard a request to build an augmentation pond on Hospital Road and Mill Street, where Castle Rock Construction is currently staging its I-76 construction project.Assistant City Administrator Karen Schminke said zoning ordinances in Brush have been around for some time, but several years ago were modified to become pro-economic development. She said when considering making changes you “want to make sure you don’t set up other issues for yourself. It should be thoughtful process.” She said it’s also important to maintain integrity and obtain public comments from all sectors of the community.After some discussion, council opted to look at draft ordinance change that would zone a portion of the commercially-zoned property as environmental preservation and to look at a special permit for the pond. Council members once again stressed they wanted the pond to be a multi-use area with a trail and that they want the pond and surrounding area properly maintained. Marketing Specialist Tyler Purvis said the votes have been counted for a new logo and slogan for Brush and will be revealed soon.The city also is continuing its work on its second bid to become an All-American City and will submit its initial application in mid-March. He said he is confident the city will this year meet its goal of becoming an All American City.The next meeting of the Brush City Council is Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m. in Council chambers.